{"id":38905,"date":"2017-10-15T18:33:16","date_gmt":"2017-10-16T00:33:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/?p=38905"},"modified":"2017-10-15T18:39:10","modified_gmt":"2017-10-16T00:39:10","slug":"op-ed-why-do-jewish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/op-ed-why-do-jewish\/","title":{"rendered":"OP-ED: Why ‘do’ Jewish?"},"content":{"rendered":"

By RABBI JOEL HOFFMAN<\/p>\n

The other day I was asked by a mother to explain to her 12-year-old daughter, who was putting up a fight every night about practicing his Haftarah, why it is important to have a Bat Mitzvah. She wanted my answer to the \u201cWhy be Jewish?\u201d question in a sound-byte that would miraculously rectify 12 years of an insufficient Jewish educational background.<\/p>\n

I prefer to rephrase the question to \u201cWhy\u00a0do<\/em>\u00a0Jewish?\u201d because asking of Jews \u201cWhy be Jewish?\u201d is akin to asking a horse \u201cWhy be a horse?\u201d It makes no sense. Also, the most important thing in Judaism is not beliefs, but action \u2013 the performance of Mitzvot<\/em> (commandments).<\/p>\n

So here\u2019s my answer to \u201cWhy do Jewish?\u201d<\/p>\n

Judaism provides a divinely given value system to live by, and the best way for Jews to have a relationship with God.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s delve into my answer:<\/p>\n

\u201cJudaism is a divinely given value system to live by\u201d \u2013 one dozen of the hundreds of values that Judaism purports include:\u00a0Bal Tash\u2019chit\u00a0<\/em>\u2013 conserving natural recourses; Tikkun Olam<\/em>\u00a0\u2013 making the world a better place;\u00a0Tzaar Baalei Chayim<\/em>\u00a0\u2013 being kind to animals;\u00a0Ahavat Yisrael<\/em>\u00a0\u2013 unconditionally loving every Jew;\u00a0Rodef Shalom\u00a0<\/em>\u2013 pursuing peace;\u00a0Tzedakah<\/em>\u00a0\u2013 helping the poor;\u00a0Bikkur Cholim<\/em>\u00a0\u2013 visiting the sick; Hachnasat Orchim\u00a0<\/em>\u2013 hospitality;\u00a0Kibud Av v\u2019Eym<\/em>\u00a0\u2013 honoring parents;\u00a0Hiddur P\u2019nai Zaken\u00a0<\/em>\u2013 esteeming the elderly;\u00a0Pikuach Nefesh<\/em>\u00a0\u2013 saving a life; and, of course, Shabbat \u2013 a weekly cessation from the mundane to focus on family and to spiritually recharge.<\/p>\n

Other religions have borrowed many of these concepts from us, but there is a uniquely Jewish way to understand and to concretize each of these values.<\/p>\n

The second part of my answer \u2013 \u201cJudaism provides the best way for a Jew to have a relationship with God\u201d \u2013 that \u201cway\u201d is through doing Mitzvot<\/em>, which comes from the Hebrew word \u201cconnection.\u201d<\/p>\n

Contrary to what one may have ingrained from their parents, Mitzvot <\/em>are not a burden nor an all-or-nothing system; they are an opportunity and a privilege. Every Mitzvah<\/em> a Jew does brings more goodness into the world, strengthens one\u2019s relationship with God, and has eternal value.<\/p>\n

Of the Torah\u2019s 613 commandments, since the Temple in Jerusalem no longer exist, only 77 positive Mitzvot<\/em>–the \u201cdo\u2019s\u201d–and just over 200 negative Mitzvot–<\/em>the don\u2019t do\u2019s–are in effect today.<\/p>\n

Of these 77 positive Mitzvot<\/em>, five of the most well-known daily ones include: putting on Tefillin, saying the Shema every morning and evening, learning Torah every morning and evening, giving Tzedakah<\/em>, and keeping Kosher. While two of the most important weekly Mitzvo<\/em>t are lighting Shabbat Candles (18 minutes before sundown on Friday) and reciting Kiddush <\/em>which is a special blessing over a cup of wine or grape juice on Friday night.<\/p>\n

If a Jew wants to make a positive contribution to the world, the first place to start is by taking steps to work on living according to Jewish values and doing Mitzvot<\/em>. Every value a Jew concretizes into action by doing a Mitzvah, <\/em>she or he is having a positive effect on the world and deepens his or her relationship with God.<\/p>\n

Rabbi Noah Weinberg\u00a0z\u201dl <\/em>used to teach the maxim: \u201cJudaism is for our pleasure,\u201d but one can only experience how it enhances one\u2019s life and imbues it with pleasure if one does Jewish. So do Jewish. Try it. You\u2019ll like it.<\/p>\n

Rabbi Joel E. Hoffman is a science and special education teacher at a public high school in Massachusetts, who teaches Hebrew and writes on Jewish topics.\u00a0 He lived in New Orleans from 2002 to 2005.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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